In 1989 Jason Becker was voted ‘Best Young Guitarist’ in the prestigious ‘Guitarist’ magazine and joined David Lee Roths Band. Whilst recording his first disc with Lee Roth however he was diagnosed with ALS, a motor neuron disease that doctors told him would rapidly not just end forever his ability to play guitar, but his ability to walk, speak and even breathe. He was given a life expectancy of perhaps five years. Now more than twenty years later, having devised a means of communication through eye movements, he has his own signature guitar on the market and a Film of his life has just been completed. The world premiere of ‘Jason Becker: Not Dead Yet’ is taking place at the Cinequest Film Festival in San Jose, California on Saturday, March 3rd.
The story of Jason Becker is a tragic one, but it has some lessons for us all about life, what’s really important within it, and how faith, courage and talent can prevail.
Here’s a clip from the upcoming film: